Key safe



0. HILL Dec. 12, 1967 KEY SAFE Filed Nov. 10, 1966 O/(m B Y United States Patent 3,357,615 KEY SAFE Okay Hill, 'E. 711 Walton Ave., Spokane, Wash. 99207 Filed Nov. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 589,867 3 Claims. (Cl. 224-) The present invention relates to an improved key safe constructed of a single heavy strap of metal or other resilient material having a releasable means to secure it to a belt, an edge of clothing, or to the edge of a pocket of ones clothing, and in which keys may be releasably carried and locked upon the other contoured end of the key safe.

In one embodiment, the belt of ones trousers may pass through the large releasable means and it is locked on it since it is difficult to remove it from the belt or lose it from the belt until the belt is unfastened. Also, the key safe of the present invention may be worn on slacks or trousers where there is no belt or suspenders used, and in which there is provided a gripper tooth for securing the key safe onto the inside band of a garment and in which there is provided resilient or spring tension against the adjacent portion of the metal strap to provide pressure sufficient to hold it securely.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a sufliciently heavy metal strap that is constructed to form the key safe of the present invention and which may be securely attached to an edge of ones garment, and in which keys may be securely pressed into locking relation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece heavy metal strap of resilient material to which is provided a leaf spring extending through an aperture therein in a generally perpendicular relation thereto, and in which the spring is secured to the metal strap by a rivet, and in which further the distal free end of the spring contacts an end of the metal strap in resilient fashion to maintain contact therewith so that keys are not allowed to become unattached from the key safe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved key safe for carrying keys and which may be readily attached to ones belt, waistband, or other edge of a garment or portion of ones clothing. It is also contemplated to be within the purview of the present invention to attach the key safe to a partition, or various parts of a ladys handbag or purse of any of several sorts, and may as well be used on the waistband of ladies skirts. The construction of the present invention is considered dainty and neat, and much smaller than the average key carrier or hook.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a composite structural combination in which a leaf spring member projects through an opening of a metal strap in a substantially normal relation rather than an angularly disposed one, so that the maximum benefits in locking keys onto the key safe and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved.

It is a further and other object of the present invention to provide an offset portion or one described as having a folded end portion so that as it contacts an end of the leaf spring, large objects such as tools and other devices adapted to be hung, may be adequately and easily disposed on the key safe.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally front and side perspective view of the key safe according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Patented Dec. 12, 1967 FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the key safe;

FIGURE 3 is an end view thereof; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view from the top thereof, in accordance with the features and concepts of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a key safe 10 consisting of a heavy elongated metal strap 12 having an intermediate or midpoint thereof folded to form a rounded fold 14 resulting in a generally otherwise V-shaped construction forming legs 16, 18 respectively. An intermediate portion of one leg 18 is disposed to have a generally Z-shaped turn 20 which terminates toward the other leg 16, and in which there is provided a medial slot 24 which is located in the transversal portion 30 of the Z-shaped turn 20, as shown in FIGURE 1. The free end 32 of the Z-shaped turn 20 is folded upon itself by a rounded contour fold 36 and terminates in the free end 40.

A leaf spring 44 secured at one end by a rivet 46 so that the spring is secured to the underside of leg 18 and it extends through the slot 24 so that it essentially resiliently engages with the free end 40, or a proximate extremity thereto and upon the underside thereof, as is shown and illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

On the other leg there is disposed proximate to the free extremity or end thereof a gripper tooth 50 formed from a die punched segment of the strap 12 and in which the gripper tooth extends angularly toward the other leg 18 and terminates in a point having physical contact with leg 18. The strap 12 between the gripper tooth 50 and the free end of leg 16 is disposed to contour slightly away from leg 18 so that there is the contoured peripheral edge 56.

The spring 44 and the free end 40 of the key safe form a locked hook element on which there may be hung a key ring, welders tools, or numerous other small elements. The spring 44 serves to retain on the free end 40 all the members that are disposed thereon and the spring 44 is inclined with relation to the planar surface of the underside of the free end 40 so that the elements disposed thereon do not urge the spring 44 to open. Also, by means of the medial portion of the Z-shaped turn 30 and the slot 24 therein being disposed generally perpendicular to the length of the spring 44, this also serves to provide increased angular movement of the spring 44 compared with other sizes of such a slot when more angularly disposed with respect to the spring 44. The spring 44 is constructed of a high tension spring steel and is designed for lasting as long as the material remains resilient and elastic. The main body of the strap 12 may be made of bronze, resilient steel, or other suitable metals for providing good spring tension at turns 14, '15, 36 and otherwise generally present throughout the length of the strap 12. The key safe may be carrried from ones belt by being inserted between elements 32 and gripper tooth 50, and by means of the gripper tooth 50 being inclined in the direction shown, the belt, or other clothing as above referred to, is firmly secured and locked in place.

Any amount of material that gathers in the space 61) between the legs 16, 18, serves to positively lock the spring 44 against its free end contact surface of free end 40.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A key safe comprising a strap of heavy elongated metal, a rounded fold of said strap to form a V-shaped construction at a point generally intermediate the length of the strap, and forming thereby two substantially equal length legs, an intermediate portion of one leg having a Z-shaped turn toward the other leg and having a medial slot in the transversal portion of the Z-shaped turn, the free end of the Z-shaped turn being folded upon itself, a leaf spring secured by a rivet to the underside of said one leg and extending through the slot to resiliently engage with the extremity of the free end, the other leg having proximate to its extremity a gripper tooth formed from a die punched segment of the strap and extending toward said one leg, said gripper tooth having its extremity in general physical contact with said one leg.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the extremity of the other leg is contoured slightly away from said one leg.

3. The invention according to claim 1 arranged to form a belt-receiving area between the space formed by the legs, and forming a key or locking means between the Z-shaped turn and the free end thereof when cooperative with said leaf spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,146,641 7/1915 Minnick 24-84 1,609,347 12/1926 Dee 24-3 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KEY SAFE COMPRISING A STRAP OF HEAVY ELONGATED METAL, A ROUNDED FOLD OF SAID STRAP TO FORM A V-SHAPED CONSTRUCTION AT A POINT GENERALLY INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF THE STRAP, AND FORMING THEREBY TWO SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH LEGS, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF ONE LEG HAVING A Z-SHAPED TURN TOWARD THE OTHER LEG AND HAVING A MEDIAL SLOT IN THE TRANSVERSAL PORTION OF THE Z-SHAPED TURN, THE FREE END OF THE Z-SHAPED TURN BEING FOLDED UPON ITSELF, A LEAF SPRING SECURED BY A RIVET TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ONE LEG AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOT TO RESILIENTLY ENGAGE WITH THE EXTREMITY THROUGH THE SLOT TO RESILIENTLY ENGAGE PROXIMATE TO ITS EXTREMITY A GRIPPER TOOTH FORMED FROM A DIE PUNCHED SEGMENT OF THE STRAP AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID ONE LEG, SAID GRIPPER TOOTH HAVING ITS EXTREMITY IN GENERAL PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH SAID ONE LEG. 